The Business of YouTube: How These 33 Channels Turned Their Hobby into a Career
YouTube has become much more than just a platform for watching funny cat videos or music videos. It has become a lucrative business for many content creators, with some earning millions of dollars each year. In fact, according to Forbes, the top ten highest-paid YouTube stars collectively earned $180.5 million in 2018. But how exactly did these content creators turn their hobby of making videos into a full-time career? In this blog post, we will explore the business side of YouTube and how 33 channels have successfully monetized their content and turned their passion into a profitable career.
1. PewDiePie
Felix Kjellberg, better known as PewDiePie, is the most subscribed individual YouTuber with over 107 million subscribers. His content mainly consists of him playing video games while providing commentary and reactions. PewDiePie started his channel in 2010 as a hobby, but as his popularity grew, he began to monetize his videos through ad revenue, sponsorships, merchandise sales, and partnerships. In 2019, Forbes estimated his earnings to be $13 million.
2. Dude Perfect
Dude Perfect is a channel run by a group of five friends who primarily create content around sports and stunts. They started their channel in 2009 and have now amassed over 57 million subscribers. The group makes money through ad revenue, brand partnerships, merchandise sales, and their own mobile game. Forbes estimated their earnings to be $20 million in 2019.
3. Zoella
Zoe Sugg, also known as Zoella, started her channel in 2009 as a way to share her beauty and fashion tips. Her channel quickly gained a large following, and she now has over 11 million subscribers. Zoella has expanded her brand to include a successful beauty and lifestyle blog, a clothing line, and a bestselling book. Forbes estimated her earnings to be $10 million in 2019.
4. The Slow Mo Guys
The Slow Mo Guys is a channel run by Gavin Free and Dan Gruchy, who create slow-motion videos of various stunts and experiments. They started their channel in 2010 and have now amassed over 13 million subscribers. The duo makes money through ad revenue, sponsorships, and their own merchandise line. Forbes estimated their earnings to be $6 million in 2019.
5. Tasty
Tasty is a channel owned by BuzzFeed that creates short recipe videos. They started their channel in 2015 and have now amassed over 19 million subscribers. Tasty generates revenue through ad revenue, sponsored videos, and partnerships with food brands. Forbes estimated their earnings to be $6.5 million in 2019.
6. Good Mythical Morning
Good Mythical Morning is a talk show-style channel run by Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal. They started their channel in 2008 and have now amassed over 17 million subscribers. The duo makes money through ad revenue, brand partnerships, and their own merchandise line. Forbes estimated their earnings to be $8 million in 2019.
7. Liza Koshy
Liza Koshy started her channel in 2013, initially creating comedy skits and vlogs. She now has over 17 million subscribers and has expanded her brand to include acting, hosting, and producing. Liza makes money through ad revenue, brand partnerships, and acting gigs. Forbes estimated her earnings to be $4 million in 2019.
8. Ryan’s World
Ryan’s World is a channel run by an eight-year-old boy named Ryan Kaji and his family. The channel started in 2015 and has now amassed over 27 million subscribers. Ryan’s World generates revenue through ad revenue, sponsored videos, and partnerships with toy companies. Forbes estimated Ryan’s earnings to be $26 million in 2019.
9. HolaSoyGerman
HolaSoyGerman is a Spanish-language comedy channel run by Chilean YouTuber Germán Garmendia. He started his channel in 2011 and now has over 41 million subscribers. Germán makes money through ad revenue, sponsored videos, and his own merchandise line. Forbes estimated his earnings to be $7 million in 2019.
10. Safiya Nygaard
Safiya Nygaard started her channel in 2011, initially creating content for BuzzFeed. She now has over 9 million subscribers and has expanded her brand to include her own clothing line. Safiya makes money through ad revenue, sponsored videos, and her merchandise line. Forbes estimated her earnings to be $2 million in 2019.
11. T-Series
T-Series is an Indian music record label and film production company that also has a YouTube channel. The channel started in 2006 and has now amassed over 160 million subscribers. T-Series generates revenue through ad revenue, music streaming, and film production. Forbes estimated their earnings to be $100 million in 2019.
12. Jenna Marbles
Jenna Marbles is one of the OG YouTubers, starting her channel in 2010. She creates comedy and lifestyle videos and has now amassed over 20 million subscribers. Jenna makes money through ad revenue, sponsored videos, and her own merchandise line. Forbes estimated her earnings to be $8 million in 2019.

The Business of YouTube: How These 33 Channels Turned Their Hobby into a Career
13. Tyler Oakley
Tyler Oakley is a YouTuber, author, and LGBTQ+ activist. He started his channel in 2007 and now has over 7 million subscribers. Tyler makes money through ad revenue, sponsored videos, and his own merchandise line. Forbes estimated his earnings to be $6 million in 2019.
14. Casey Neistat
Casey Neistat is a filmmaker and vlogger who started his channel in 2010. He has now amassed over 12 million subscribers and makes money through ad revenue, sponsored videos, and his own merchandise line. Forbes estimated his earnings to be $7 million in 2019.
15. Lilly Singh
Lilly Singh, also known as Superwoman, started her channel in 2010 and has amassed over 14 million subscribers. She makes comedic sketches and vlogs and has now expanded her brand to include acting and hosting. Lilly makes money through ad revenue, sponsored videos, and her own merchandise line. Forbes estimated her earnings to be $10 million in 2019.
16. Roman Atwood
Roman Atwood started his channel in 2013 and creates comedy and prank videos. He has now amassed over 15 million subscribers and makes money through ad revenue, sponsorships, and his own merchandise line. Forbes estimated his earnings to be $10 million in 2019.
17. Rosanna Pansino
Rosanna Pansino started her channel in 2010 and creates baking and cooking videos. She now has over 12 million subscribers and makes money through ad revenue, sponsored videos, and her own merchandise line. Forbes estimated her earnings to be $10 million in 2019.
18. Colleen Ballinger
Colleen Ballinger, also known as Miranda Sings, started her channel in 2008 and creates comedy and music videos. She has now amassed over 10 million subscribers and makes money through ad revenue, sponsored videos, and her own merchandise line. Forbes estimated her earnings to be $5 million in 2019.
19. VanossGaming
VanossGaming is a gaming channel run by Evan Fong that started in 2011. He now has over 25 million subscribers and makes money through ad revenue, sponsorships, and his own merchandise line. Forbes estimated his earnings to be $11.5 million in 2019.
20. Troom Troom
Troom Troom is a channel that creates DIY and life hack videos. They started their channel in 2015 and have now amassed over 22 million subscribers. Troom Troom makes money through ad revenue, sponsored videos, and partnerships with crafting and beauty brands. Forbes estimated their earnings to be $8 million in 2019.
21. Nigahiga
Nigahiga is a comedy channel run by Ryan Higa, who started his channel in 2006. He now has over 21 million subscribers and makes money through ad revenue, sponsorships, and his own merchandise line. Forbes estimated his earnings to be $2.5 million in 2019.
22. Miranda Sings
Miranda Sings is a channel run by Colleen Ballinger that started in 2008. She now has over 10 million subscribers and makes money through ad revenue, sponsored videos, and her own merchandise line. Forbes estimated her earnings to be $5 million in 2019.
23. Rhett and Link
Rhett and Link have been creating comedy videos since 2006 and now have over 16 million subscribers. They make money through ad revenue, sponsorships, and their own merchandise line. Forbes estimated their earnings to be $17.5 million in 2019.
24. Markiplier
Markiplier is a gaming channel run by Mark Fischbach that started in 2012. He now has over 27 million subscribers and makes money through ad revenue, sponsorships, and his own merchandise line. Forbes estimated his earnings to be $13 million in 2019.
25. Marques Brownlee
Marques Brownlee, also known as MKBHD, started his channel in 2009 and creates technology and gadget reviews. He now has over 12 million subscribers and makes money through ad revenue, sponsored videos, and partnerships with tech companies. Forbes estimated his earnings to be $8 million in 2019.
26. Ninja
Ninja is a gaming channel run by Tyler Blevins that started in 2011. He now has over 24 million subscribers and makes money through ad revenue, sponsorships, and his own merchandise line. Forbes estimated his earnings to be $17 million in 2019.
27. Sm








